Elisha clark



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISHA CLARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND J. W. PADDON, OF

SAME PLACE.

PAPER-FILE.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 28,234, dated May 8, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIsHA CLARK, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Newspaper-F iles, the construction and operation of which I have described in the following specification and illustrated in its accompanying drawings with sufficient clearness to enable competent and skilful workmen in the arts to which it pertains or is most nearly allied to make and use my invention.

My said invention consists in the combination of a main bar with a bar recessed into it and held up by springs against a fold which is joined to the main bar and may be folded down upon it in such a manner as to form together when arranged as described a neat, simple, cheap, and very eicient lile for news and other papers, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

My invention is represented in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved paper file. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of it. Fig. 3 is 'an end View of it, the end represented being that toward the left hand in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section, showing the parts at the right hand side of the line XX as drawn across Figs. l and 2.

l is the main portion of the file. This is recessed or grooved out as shown at 2, to receive the bar 3, which is iitted into it as shown in Fig. 4, and is kept, by the spiral springs 4, 4, to the position there represented, and also shown in the other figures. Enough of these springs may be, and should be used to secure the perfect bearing of the bars between which the papers are to be confined. In many cases two springs will be amply sucient; in some very small files one may answer the purpose, while in some very long tiles 3 or even 4 springs may be necessary especially if intended for securing papers which are constitutionally rather slippery. Flat springs may be preferred in some cases, and may be used with perhaps equal facility, and perhaps for supporting the middle of the bar 3, would be in many cases preferable.

In large les, instead of the bar 3 being notched out to receive the spiral springs, as shown on the drawings, cylindric apertures may be formed in the lower side of it, of suflicient diameter to allow these springs to work in them, by which means they will be securely kept in position.

The bar 3 is kept by the pin 5 from being forced out too far, the pin being inserted and secured in the side portion of the bar l, and passing through a slot 6 in the bar 3, which slot is sufliciently large to allow said bar sulicient play. These parts being thus prepared, a bar 7 is attached by means of the hinge S, to the bar l, in such a manner that it may be folded down so as to come in contact with the spring bar 3, and secured in that position by means of the hook 9, as shown in Fig. 3. The bar 3 fitting snugly and with a yielding pressure against the bar 7, secures in this manner the papers which may be placed between them, which may be done by unhooking the bar 7, and raising it up, and then by folding it down upon the papers they are secured.

I am aware that several files have been previously invented in which a yielding pressure has been employed to hold papers, the leaves of books, sheets of music, Snc. I do not claim the employment of elastic pressure for this purpose, nor do I claim as my invention a bar operated by a spring or springs for retaining papers, &c, in their position in a file. Neither do I claim a spring bar placed in a recess or unobstructed space left unoccupied for its reception, and pressing against another bar to hold papers, the leaves of books, &c.

Having fully described my said invention, I claim- The paper tile described, made by arranging the grooved bar l, bar 3, springs 4, 4, and bar 7, in combination with each other in the manner described and shown, the parts being constructed substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ELISHA CLARK.

Witnesses:

JOHN CRUMLY, THos. P. How. 

